It's final, no room for negotiation: Jayantakumar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 18 2020: MLA L Jayantakumar who stepped down from bring a Cabinet Minister along with three other fellow NPP Ministers apart from withdrawing their support to the BJP-led coalition Government has categorically stated that their decision to part ways with BJP was final and there would not be any room for negotiation.

Speaking to media persons at his Babupara quarters today, Jayantakumar said that there is no element of democracy in the BJP-led Government but it is an autocracy run by a single man at his own wisdom.

Rather than giving any freedom to Ministers to discharge their duties and responsibilities, Chief Minister N Biren often interfered into their works.

The coalition Government is a Government run exclusively by N Biren and a few of his cohorts, Jayantakumar alleged.

"Even though I was the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, I was never consulted before framing any policy or SOP on COVID-19 nor any information was shared with me before buying any equipment or material.

I was totally incapacitated.

Any kind of authority or financial power was not granted to me", Jayantakumar confided.

"I did not have any concrete answer when someone asked me about COVID-19 even though I was the Health Minister.

Under such circumstances, how long a Minister would cling to his position is highly questionable.

Given that the Government has been functioning, many people might have a notion that Ministers were not doing any work and they were only enjoying their salary", Jayantakumar said.

The Chief Minister always turned down repeated proposals to give a name to the coalition Government and draw up a common minimum programme.

He went on to ask what reply they would have given as partners of the coalition Government when people asked the name of the coalition Government and its common minimum programme.

Most quarters of Government departments are constructed by Manipur Police Housing Corporation which is directly controlled by the Chief Minister.

As such, the Ministers concerned even did not know where the quarters were constructed but the Ministers would be blamed if anything went wrong in the construction works, Jayantakumar said.

He also questioned the motive and logic of entrusting all sanctioned works of different departments to Manipur Police Housing Corporation.

Formation of Government in a democracy is basically a number game, he said.

Pointing out that there was a narrow margin between BJP and Congress when the results of the last State Assembly election were announced, Jayantakumar asked which party saved BJP at the time of the Government formation.

"The coalition Government was formed with the help of NPP but how should we react if our words were not given any importance", Jayantakumar said.

He then appealed to all concerned to understand how hurt were the Ministers and the three BJP MLAs who quit their posts and membership, and joined the Opposition camp.

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